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It was a dramatic first day in Suzuka, this is my Friday Roundup.
The first practice session in Suzuka was a Mercedes show with Rosberg and Hamilton showing the way around. It was a session full of incident with a number of drivers having off track excursions. Jules Bianchi ploughed into the tyre barriers at the second Degner ending his session. The Marussia was badly damaged and could not be repaired before the Friday afternoon practice session. Pastor Maldonado had a loose wheel through the Spoon corner, which sent the Williams in a spin putting the Venezuelan out of the session. Sergio Perez drove well in the McLaren finishing ahead of his teammate Jenson Button. The Japanese Grand Prix weekend started in dramatic fashion, this was the top ten finishers in FP1.
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:34.157
2 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:34.487
3 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:34.768
4 Mark Webber Red Bull 1:34.787
5 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:35.126
6 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:35.154
7 Romain Grosjean Lotus 1:35.179
8 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus 1:35.364
9 Sergio Perez McLaren 1:35.450
10 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:35.635
The second practice session was action packed just like the first. But the Red Bull's of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were much more dominant than FP1 and there was hardly a gap between their times.
Kimi Raikkonen had an off track excursion, but Pastor Maldonado's session was over after just ten minutes. The Williams crashed into the barriers at the Degner curve, It's a corner which often catches drivers out. Sergio Perez also crashed out at the Spoon curve, the McLaren had a heavy impact after the Mexican lost the rear of the car. Mercedes didn't have the pace in second practice, and could not match the Red Bull's. After another dramatic session, this is how the top ten finished.
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:33.852
2 Mark Webber Red Bull 1:34.020
3 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:34.114
4 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus 1:34.202
5 Romain Grosjean Lotus 1:34.411
6 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:34.442
7 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:34.473
8 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:34.698
9 Jenson Button McLaren 1:34.912
10 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:35.087
The Japanese Grand Prix weekend is underway in Suzuka and it's looking very interesting already. Plenty of action coupled with some dramatic moments. It sounds rather like the Korean race last weekend.
Red Bull are clearly the team to beat here this weekend, but Lewis Hamilton said he felt confident Mercedes could pose a threat around Suzuka. The real pace will become clear tomorrow in final practice and of course Qualifying. Ferrari haven't shown their hand today, with the world championship a stake they are clearly playing their cards close to their chest. I suspect they will have a good car underneath them this weekend.
Lets see what Saturday brings, you can follow all the weekends Formula 1 action right here at Driving For Pleasure with our Live F1 feature. Follow me on Twitter @TomWilkinsonF1 for all the very latest news from the paddock.
Until tomorrow, it's good bye from Suzuka.
